Gasum, Orkla and Volvo Trucks have joined forces to lower road transport emissions. Orkla, a leading manufacturer and supplier of branded consumer goods, Nordic gas giant Gasum Oy and global truck manufacturer Volvo Trucks will be working with Orkla’s transport
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to dominate the world, right? But Neste wants to do it in a nice way by becoming the global leader in renewable and circular solutions. There are 3 ways they are working on this
by Rachel Hatch (Illinois State University News) ... An ISU professor of genetics, (John) Sedbrook is devoted to integrated plant biology and bioenergy, meaning his research focuses on bringing out positive genetic traits in plants. “We’re making mutations that are
by Carrie Talus (New Mexico Consortium) New Mexico Consortium scientist, Joseph Msanne, along with colleagues Shawn Starkenburg and Juergen Polle, recently published an article titled An Assessment of Heterotrophy and Mixotrophy in Scenedesmus and its Utilization in Wastewater Treatment, in the June
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy may be just a block or two apart on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., but they are miles apart on their long-term outlook for ethanol. Seemingly
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) On this episode of the Fueling the Future podcast, I spoke with Ortwin Costenoble, senior standarization consultant with the Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN) about the recent research project commissioned by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) entitled, “Engine
by Tim Lee (ABC News) ...Victorian grain grower David Jochinke, who participated in the trials, said the prospect of pioneering a biofuel was exciting. "To have a product that needs very little refining, is biodegradable, is a bio-energy, is a bio-fuel,
(Norak e-Fuel) Norsk e-Fuel is planning Europe’s first commercial plant for hydrogen-based renewable aviation fuel in Norway Leading industry consortium joins forces to make unlimited renewable fuel a reality to achieve climate-neutral transportation Norsk e-fuel is generating renewable fuels from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 1 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Frontier Energy shares their H2@Scale vision, progress in Texas and why Texas is actually a pretty ideal location to lead H2 production for a sustainable energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We left the discussion with a hint about the potential conversion of methane to methanol, which can serve as a powerful chemical building block or, in China most prominently, as a fuel. We’ll pick up from that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 2 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Exelon shares this illuminating presentation that digs deep into their project to evaluate technical and economic feasibility of integrated nuclear-renewable-hydrogen plant operation, assess hydrogen market in region
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Part 3 of today’s Hot Hydrogen slide guides, Southern Company’s Noah Meeks takes a look at how hydrogen mitigates multiple issues in a low-carbon transition, the valuation of hydrogen energy storage in a high
(Diesel Technology Institute) This segment explores the role of hybrid technologies. Disruptive trends are altering the future of mobility, work and societies at large. Connected vehicles, automated driving, shared ride services, and an anticipated shift to fully electric power for personal
(Linköping University/EurekAlert!) Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, are attempting to convert carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to fuel using energy from sunlight. Recent results have shown that it is possible to use their technique to selectively produce methane, carbon monoxide or
(Global CCS Institute) The Global CCS Institute, an international think tank, has added 10 carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities to its global database, bringing the total number of CCS facilities in various stages of development to 59 with a capture capacity of more than 127 million tonnes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How will we develop hydrogen for industrial and transport objectives? That is the question The Digest’s Jim Lane looks at in this visual slide guide highlighting the demand potential, background on renewable gases and renewable hydrogen,
(Advanced Biofuels USA) Since 2011, one of Advanced Biofuels USA's most popular publications has been "What's the Difference between Biodiesel and Renewable (Green) Diesel?" The update of this paper has been expanded to answer the question, "What Renewable Fuels Can
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Big project news came in that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation entered into an agreement with Bioenergy DevCo to purchase biogas generated from organic materials at BDC’s facilities in Delaware which will be processed into renewable
(Alpha Galileo/Graz University of Technology) Hydrogen researchers at Graz University of Technology, together with the Graz-based start-up Rouge H2 Engineering, have developed a cost-effective process for the decentralised production of high-purity hydrogen. As an alternative propulsion technology in the transport sector,
(The Maritime Executive) CMA CGM Group became the latest large shipping company to accelerate its goals to achieve carbon neutrality. Participating in the UN Global Compact conference, Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé announced that the company’s objective is now to be
(Biofuels International) The BC Hemp Corporation has revealed it will be building a $2 billion (€1.8 billion) biofuel plant on an industrial site in Prince George, British Columbia. BC Hemp president Remi Balaj made the announcement during a live stream and
(Bismarck Tribune) The North Dakota Industrial Commission has issued a $500,000 grant to the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota to continue research into carbon capture and storage at ethanol plants. The research will use Red
(St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University) Researchers from St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI" have developed a model of biofuel cell for electricity generation using cyanobacteria. -- Nowadays, the engineering of environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources is one of the most important problems
by Valerie Volcovici (Reuters/Yahoo!) U.S. senators on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill that would direct the Agriculture Department to help farmers, ranchers and landowners use carbon dioxide-absorbing practices to generate carbon credits, a rare collaboration on climate change. The proposed Growing Climate
(BioMarket Insight) The UK-based scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Bath have developed what they describe as a “faster, more efficient way” of recycling plant-based bioplastics. The team has shown how their chemical recycling method not only speeds up the process,
by Kelsey D. Atherton (Forbes) ... The process patented by Los Alamos uses a byproduct of ethanol production, letting America's love of fueling vehicles with corn fuel even more dangerous vehicles. ... The U.S. Navy pursued a cheaper, biofuel alternative for JP-10 for
by T.Seljak, M.Buffi, A.Valera-Medina, C.T.Chong, D.Chiaramonti, T.Katrašnik (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews) -A systematic and holistic assessment of relevant properties of bioliquids. -New technical advances of piston engines and micro gas turbines using bioliquids. -A detailed analysis of required power
(Empa/NGV Journal) By 2030, Lidl Switzerland wants to deliver its goods to all its stores without the use of fossil fuels. To achieve this goal, technological progress and cooperation between research, industry and the public authorities are essential. As part of
(Department of Energy) While approximately 30% of today’s new cars can boast fuel economy of at least 30 miles per gallon, there is still the opportunity for further efficiency gains. Top scientists, engineers, and analysts with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization
by Julie Chao (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Berkeley Lab launches three new projects to advance sustainable agricultural practices ... The three projects, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), leverage Berkeley Lab’s strengths in artificial intelligence, sensors, and ecological biology.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After what could be considered a lengthy out-of-town tryout, LanzaJet is now officially launched as a LanzaTech spin-off — Suncor Energy and Mitsui & Co. are investing $15 million and $10 million, respectively, to establish the new venture.
by Elena Gorgan (Auto Evolution) ... Vripack wants to show the world that a fully-sustainable megayacht can still be a stunner, and even push the envelope on naval design, to boot. In penning Futura, creative directors Bart Bouwhuis and Marnix Hoekstra
(Leiden University/Phys.Org) Leiden researchers have found minute movements in the laccase enzyme. This discovery could lead to the development of much more efficient biofuel cells. Publication in Biophysical Journal. READ MORE Chemical exchange at the tri-nuclear copper centre of small laccase from
(Licella) India generates approximately 683 million tons of dry agricultural biomass every year. Biomass residues generated from rice crops account for approximately 178 million tons of this. The current practice to deal with rice straw residues (the waste biomass left behind
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Toyota’s been working on a global environmental challenge – a new vehicle with zero CO2 emissions and plants with zero CO2 emissions. But how can they achieve what seems to be impossible? That’s where hydrogen and fuel cells
by Kyle Mizokami (Popular Mechanics) The new fuel blend uses feedstocks instead of petroleum in an effort to limit the military's dependence on fossil fuels. -- Modern cruise missiles are powered by turbine engines running off JP-10. -Scientists at Los
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA in May approved a fuel pathway under the Renewable Fuel Standard for a biomass gasification plant under development in McFarland, California, that will produce renewable natural gas (RNG) for sale into the transportation
(Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) CAAFI is happy to announce the latest industry alternative jet fuel (AJF) Production Pathway approvals, and ASTM publication of: 1) A new ASTM D7566 alternative jet fuel production pathway: ASTM D7566 Annex A7 – Hydroprocessed Hydrocarbons
by Antonio Bonomi, Otávio Cavalett, Bruno Colling Klein, Mateus Ferreira Chagas, and Nariê Rinke Dias Souza (Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR)/ National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM)/IEA Bioenergy) Second-generation (2G) or lignocellulosic biofuels are deemed advanced in
by Karn Manhas (Terramera/AgFunder News) ... Far less attention has been paid to agriculture’s capacity to be a climate solution. How? Through the production and maintenance of healthy living soil. The world’s soils contain 2,500 gigatons of carbon — more than three times more
(GreenAir Online) Airbus and Rolls-Royce have announced an ending to their joint hybrid-electric E-Fan X demonstrator programme, a pioneering project directed towards the electrification of commercial passenger aircraft. A BAe 146 RJ100 test aircraft with one of its four jet engines
(GreenAir Online) Fuel standards organisation ASTM International has approved the seventh technology pathway for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Annex A7 to ASTM’s SAF specification D7566 establishes approval for a type of synthesised paraffinic kerosene derived
(Massive Science/The Salk Institute) ... Plants — historically speaking, our most reliable friends — have evolved to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide. They use energy from the sun to convert CO2 and water into sugar and other important molecules,
(Ørsted) Copenhagen Airports, A.P. Moller - Maersk, DSV Panalpina, DFDS, SAS and Ørsted have formed the first partnership of its kind to develop an industrial-scale production facility to produce sustainable fuels for road, maritime and air transport in the Copenhagen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect hosted a wildly popular webinar in late April with Clariant’s Head of Business Line, Biofuels & Derivatives at Clariant but there were so many fantastic audience questions we didn’t to, that we decided to follow
(Chemical Processing) Biofuels cost-competitive with fossil fuels would result if crops produce a valuable chemical that can be recovered economically, note researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Berkeley, Calif. The researchers now have determined exactly how
(SGH2/NGV Journal) The global energy company SGH2 is bringing the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility to Lancaster, California. The plant will feature SGH2’s pioneering technology, which uses recycled mixed paper waste to produce “greener than green” hydrogen that reduces carbon
by Johan Sheridan (News10) The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection awarded $5.8 million to the State University of New York at Cobleskill for its gasifier project, which turns combustible waste into a sustainable, clean-burning fuel. The grant supports creating a mobile
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Australian Renewable Energy Agency, or ARENA, has invested $1.48 billion in 513 projects since 2012, and of those approximately $50 million are across 28 hydrogen projects. A pathway to a renewable hydrogen industry has many benefits but
by Zia Abdullah (U.S. Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Achieves high sugar yields with low enzyme loadings; Deconstructing Biomass with a Common Pulp and Paper Industry Method -- Ozone treatment (aka "ozonolysis") of lignocellulose pulp is a widely practiced method for
(The Register Guard) An international research collaboration has taken an important step toward the commercially viable manufacture of biobutanol, an alcohol whose strong potential as a fuel for gasoline-powered engines could pave the path away from fossil fuels, according to news
by Lynne Roeder (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) PNNL invention partitions ethanol from gasoline to enable octane on demand; could also lower emissions -- ... Designed to work with a car’s existing fuel, the onboard separation technology is the first to
(Maryland Energy Innovation Institute) The Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2) awarded the third round of their Energy Innovation Seed Grants to six projects across the University System of Maryland. The grants are intended to bridge the gap between academic transformative laboratory research results
(The Guardian) ... Oil palm can fetch Nigeria as much revenue as the crude oil can so said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele. But self-inflicted challenges that de-ranked the country from the largest producer in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Canada comes news that NOVA Chemicals and Enerkem entered into a joint development agreement to explore turning non-recyclable and non-compostable municipal waste into ethylene, a basic building block of plastics. NOVA Chemicals has committed to enabling
(Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation) Scientists engineering valuable microbes for renewable fuels and bioproducts have developed a fast, efficient way to identify the most promising varieties. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign developed a novel mass spectrometry-based
(Urban Air Initiative/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Urban Air Initiative sent a letter to the COVID-19 Review Panel within the EPA’s Science Advisory Board asking them to look at the research that shows the impact gasoline additives have on tailpipe emissions and air pollution. The
(Lufthansa Group) Lufthansa Group, ETH Zurich and its spin-offs Climeworks and Synhelion plan to cooperate in the field of Sustainable Aviation Fuels; The partnership initiated by SWISS and Edelweiss is intended to encompass collaboration in the areas of technology and economic
by Tina Casey (Triple Pundit) ... (T)there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of biofuels, as the field continues to evolve remarkably from where it was a decade ago. ... Rather than letting the rest of the plant go to waste, the
(Dresden University of Technology/Phys.Org) As a new class of porous materials, noble metal aerogels (NMAs) have drawn attention for their self-supported architectures, high surface areas and their many optically and catalytically active sites, enabling impressive performance in diverse fields. However, current
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, the European Investment Bank, with the support of the European Commission, has granted a EUR 75 million (nearly $82 million USD) loan to ArcelorMittal for Steelanol, the EUR 165 million ($180 million USD)
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy on April 24 announced plans to award funding to a carbon capture and storage (CCUS) project under development at an Illinois ethanol plant. The agency is also soliciting applications for
(Biofuels International) Velocys, the sustainable fuels technology company, has announced it has secured a further £1m funding for the Altalto waste-to-fuels project from British Airways and Shell. The proposed Altalto Immingham plant is to convert hundreds of thousands of tonnes
by Roxby Hartley (EcoEngineers/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is receiving a lot of traction thanks to two exciting developments in 2018 and 2019: 1) California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard recognized CCS as a viable pathway to reduce emissions from
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) In the same manner that pocket calculators made math faster and easier, a new machine-learning tool developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has significantly speeded up calculating the thermodynamics of chemical reactions. Developed as part
(Airlines for America) Number of Approved Pathways Grows to Seven -- Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, applauds the addition of a seventh annex to ASTM International’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) specification, D7566, which will further enable
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) From the land down under arrives news of millions pouring in for renewable energy – $1.1 million (about $700K USD) funding pouring into renewable methane, $3 million (nearly $2 million USD) for building a world-first
(Praj/Sekab E-Technology AB) Sekab E-technology AB and Praj Industries, India have signed a collaboration agreement in order to upgrade and commercialize technology solutions geared towards the production of sustainable biofuels and chemical products. Praj industries will through this collaboration help to
by Jim McMahon (Biomass Magazine) After 35 years of open-air composting, Zurich’s recently-opened anaerobic digestion facility can process 25,000 tons of organic municipal solid waste annually, producing biogas for power generation and high-grade organic fertilizer. -- Since 1978, the city
by Sigurd Koldste (Bio2Oil) Back in late November, our CEO Ib Johannsen participated in an expert workshop on hydrothermal liquefaction in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop was hosted by five European research projects (HyFlexFuel, WASTE2ROAD, 4refinery, NextGenRoadFuels and Heat to Fuel) in collaboration with the Norwegian National Centre
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuel Strategies) Researchers at Monash University in Australia have proposed a roadmap to renewable ammonia being produced in the future at a scale that is significant in terms of global fossil fuel use in a paper recently published
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new technology that produces a doubling of overall biomass in algae and 40 percent in camelina has appeared on the horizon, and I’d like to draw your attention to this work in The Plant Journal and this
(Carbon 180) Soil carbon storage offers significant economic and environmental opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Agricultural practices that store carbon in the soil can help fight climate change at a low cost. Those same practices can also improve overall soil
(University of Bath/Phys.Org) UK researchers have developed a cheap and simple way of creating biofuel and fertiliser from seaweed, whilst removing plastic from the oceans and cleaning up tourist beaches in the Caribbean and Central America. Millions of tonnes of rotting seaweed
(Eindhoven University of Technology) EU-funded project aims to develop new production methods for sustainable maritime fuels. -- Many ships use heavy fuel oils that contain large amounts of sulphur and nitrogen leading to the emission of greenhouse gases and other damaging
by Robert F. Service (Science Magazine) As windmills and solar panels multiply, the supply of renewable electricity sometimes exceeds demand. Chemists would like to put the excess to work making commodity chemicals, such as the raw materials for fertilizer and plastics,
by Jill Sakai (University of Wisconsin-Madison News) Researchers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a method to combine traits from up to six different yeast species in a single hybrid strain — a
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) It’s been only two years since the Environmental Protection Agency approved sorghum oil as an eligible feedstock under the Renewable Fuel Standard, but a lot has happened since then. The EPA’s announcement marked a significant step
(University of Minnesota) ... “So many other things change around a gene at the same time, you can’t focus on how a single gene changes,” said Michael Travisano, a professor in the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences’ Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo’s business strategy is to secure off take agreements for jet fuel and isooctane striking a price that gives attractive returns for project financing for large scale build out of capacity. But how? How will they
(Greasezilla) The new modular Greasezilla system expands its FOG separation system to serve large food processors, wastewater treatment centers and waste haulers requiring FOG separation systems to be placed at any large-scale collection point -- Downey Ridge Environmental Company, developer of Greasezilla™,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest reported yesterday how White Dog Labs is giving a glimmer of hope to the ethanol industry by being able to convert ethanol production into alternative protein production thanks to their microbiome-derived biotech – and
by Iris Kumpmann (Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft/Tech Xplore) ... Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen have been looking into alternative climate-friendly fuels. They are now able to produce a renewable biofuel that can be converted
by Brian Wang (Next BIG Future) NASA NIAC fund work to use bioorganisms to perform atmospheric in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Utilizing 100% ISRU for propellant production, they aim to reduce the Entry Descent Landing (EDL) mass of a crewed mission to Mars
by Chris Bliley (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... When it comes to transportation emissions, newsrooms around the world generally preserve their biggest headlines for the urgent, high-stakes battle against climate change. Biofuels are a major part of that conversation, and
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... White Dog Labs is starting to address the problem by bringing new markets to ethanol plants and corn farmers – starting with an ethanol plant in Minnesota and repurposing it for mass-production of alternative
(Guttman Community College) Assistant Professor of Science Dr. Jihyun Kim’s research on transforming brown grease into biodiesel fuel has been published in the Journal of Biochemical Engineering under the title “Biodiesel fuel production from brown grease produced by wastewater treatment plant: Optimization
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (W)e are driven to find renewable alternatives to oil-based products and chemicals. We believe that everything that is made from oil today, can be made of wood tomorrow. To fulfill our purpose, we had to
(Indiana Agriculture Coalition for Renewable Energy) Our first featured renewable energy project is a joint project between PU Chemical Enginering and PU Agronomy Department at the Sustainable Food, Energy and Water Systems (SFEWS) research project in West Lafeyette. ... “This research will
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DNA is changing the world. That’s what Twist Biosciences is focusing on with synthetic DNA being the future of chemicals, food, therapeutics, diagnostics and even data storage. From next-gen sequencing to synthetic biology, Twist Biosciences envisions a
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... If you’ve noticed that DOE is taking on a much more fundamental bit of science than we’ve seen in the past decade — a move away from catalyzing demonstrations and scale-up and towards more fundamental
by Adam Hadhazy (Princeton University/Phys.Org) ...More energy-dense and convenient for vehicle use than ethanol, the standard biofuel of today, isobutanol is unfortunately more toxic to yeast, which limits its production. In a study published in the journal Cell Systems, Avalos and
by Cindy Chambers (Salisbury Business Journal) Dr. Jurgen Schwarz, chair of the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences and Dr. Sadanand Dhekney, associate professor of plant breeding and biotechnology, are recipients of an Energy Innovation Seed Grant awarded by the
(Oregon State University/Phys.Org) An international research collaboration has taken an important step toward the commercially viable manufacture of biobutanol, an alcohol whose strong potential as a fuel for gasoline-powered engines could pave the path away from fossil fuels. The key breakthrough is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cow poop. It’s a problem for farmers across the country, something that has to be dealt with, something that environmentalists and vegetarians often cite as a reason to cut your steak intake, but Vanguard Renewables
(Urban Air Initiative) That is the conclusion of a new peer reviewed technical paper published in the Journal of Air & Waste Management, validating previous research efforts by the Urban Air Initiative that find when ethanol is added to gasoline, it significantly reduces
by Nigel N. Clark, David L. McKain Jr., Tammy Klein and Terence Higgins (Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association) Emissions levels from current gasoline spark-ignited engines are low, and emissions changes associated with blending of ethanol into gasoline are
by Nikki Macdonald (Stuff) ... It was one of many pieces of breathless hype to come out of the Nelson company - the fuel was actually 95 per cent ordinary diesel and 5 per cent bio-diesel. But the stunt received
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant takes us on a journey on how carbon emissions can be reduced by advanced biofuels, more specifically, how lignocellulosic ethanol made from agriculture residues like straw, non-food materials, and waste can make an immediate impact,
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In comes news of public-private investments, rural economic development and employment, and even human health. With two new executive position veteran hires, up to 8 new plant managers, and putting to use a
(Recycling Technologies) Recycling Technologies Ltd (‘Recycling Technologies’), a specialist plastic recycling technology provider and Brightlands Chemelot Campus, an innovation, research and technological growth hub announce today they have signed the first agreement towards the installation of Recycling Technologies’ first European plastic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... We can add capacity for energy by turning to the massive spaces in the open oceans to gather sunlight to grow abundant, competitive biomass for carbon-neutral fuels. For scale, we need 220,000 square kilometers to
(Suny College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Research published today in Nature suggests mature forests are limited in their ability to absorb "extra" carbon as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations increase. These findings may have implications for New York state's carbon neutrality
(Yale/National University of Singapore College/EurekAlert!) A team of researchers from Yale-NUS College, in collaboration with scientists in Sweden, has found that bisulphate species in the exhaust stream are strongly connected to decreasing the effectiveness of exhaust remediation catalysts in diesel
(Nanyang Technological University) Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) have launched a report that outlines how companies can use alternative fuels to power their ships. This will help them meet the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) long-term greenhouse gas (GHG)
(Lloyds Register and University Maritime Advisory Services) ... This paper is an example of this collaboration; it examines three important elements of zero-carbon fuels when compared with traditional fossil-based fuels. All candidate fuels considered in this paper have some emissions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As I write, the May contract for West Texas Intermediate is selling for -$40.21 a barrel, or a negative cost of $240 per tonne. Let’s put that in context, you can throw unmixed useless garbage into
by Allen Schaeffer (Diesel Technology Forum/Progressive Dairy) ... In California, home of the nation’s most progressive climate policy that is now nearly a decade old, the Air Resources Board motto is, “Electrify everything possible and use low-carbon fuels in everything
(Oklahoma Farm Bureau) ... The Harvard team's recent findings underscore the need to power more of our transportation system with non-petroleum-based fuels, like ethanol. The research team looked specifically at polluted areas beleaguered by fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). Motor vehicle emissions
(Renewable Fuels Association) As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by
(MINSHIP) Bavarian ship management company MINSHIP and its subsidiary MINMARINE have announced that a bulk carrier in their fleet of managed vessels, M/V Trudy, has successfully bunkered biofuel at the Port of Rotterdam. The biofuel bunkered by the 2009-built, 30,790-dwt bulk
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Xebec is reducing carbon emissions in the gas grid by accelerating the adoption of renewable gases, focusing on both renewable natural gas and renewable hydrogen. With a $100 million in order backlog that validates the
(University of Maine) Incentivizing both sequestration and avoidance of emissions— using a carbon rental or carbon tax and subsidy approach — versus only a carbon tax encourages protection of natural forests by valuing the standing stock, according to a new study
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... ZeaKal, which announced that its multiyear field trials of its PhotoSeed technology – and their soybeans increased the per acre production of oil and protein by 18 percent and three percent respectively without any penalty
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, the new Volvo self-charging buses with hybrid power, the “S-Charge” model range have been upgraded with new capabilities and can now drive silently and emission-free on electricity at higher speeds and cover longer distances than before.
(Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials) The “Blockchain database for sustainable biofuels” project is jointly led by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) and Bioledger and aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a blockchain-based database solution for the European sustainably-certified biofuels market, with
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) ... Markus Dielacher, CEO of BDI-BioEnergy International, says many companies offering pretreatment systems came from the vegetable oil side. “They started with clean feedstock and it worked,” he says. “We came from the other side,
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) California needs facilities that can dramatically reduce GHG emissions and black carbon production by using wood waste, according to GTI. The closing of biomass power plants is leading to open burning of the excess
by Matthew Mercure (NGT News) Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF (Fraunhofer IFF) have designed a factory for the distributed and modular production and distribution of green hydrogen. While hydrogen provides an eco-friendly option to meet industry demand for
by Jesper Bruun (Aarhus University) A new research project at Aarhus University will exploit millions of years of evolution to develop sustainable biofuels. Among other things, the solution lies in the digestive system of pandas. -- By imitating natural biological degradation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “There is no substitute for a fully integrated pilot process,” said Mark Warner in this illuminating presentation on how to get from concept to commercialization for novel proteins. But what are the economic implications of
by Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh (University of Louisville/Biofuels Diges) In Kentucky, Louisville scientists add value to solid wastes from the hemp product industry. Their research exploits a simple process that transforms the waste into levulinic acid, a valuable chemical and a cement
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) enEvolv produces biobased chemicals for the energy, specialty chemicals, nutrition and therapeutics industries, develops novel strains and improves existing ones focusing on their ultra-rapid genome engineering platform. Marco Farsheed, enEvolv’s Co-Founder and CEO shared this illuminating presentation
by HelenaTavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ...News arrived from France that Carbios has made quite a leap forward on breaking down and recycling plastic bottles thanks to their enzymatic recycling technology leading the way to recycle plastic bottles not into clothing or carpet,
by Anthony Westbury (Treasure Coast Business) ... Pongamia is a tree crop with several key advantages over citrus. It grows wild in India, where its pods have traditionally been crushed to yield lamp oil. The left-over meal is often used
by Tarunika Kapoor (Daily Californian) UC researchers published a study March 27 that found the exact amount of biofuel needed to match price with and potentially replace petroleum-based gasoline and other fuel sources, which could have broad environmental consequences. Published in the
(University of San Diego Scripps Institute of Oceanography) Biologists and engineers design 3D printed corals that could help energy production and coral reefs -- Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego,
(Alliance BioEnergy/Globe Newswire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (PINK: ALLM). Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc., is pleased to announce that it has finalized the design and is building its new 4th generation “Cellulose-to-Sugar” (“CTS 2.0”) prototype. The Company has received funding from a couple of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Patented new technology uses commodity yellow grease without pre-processing or pre-heating requirements. Replaces #2 heating oil nearly volume for volume. ... Yellow Heat biofuel burner operates on locally available yellow grease biofuel. World’s only central heating
by Sandra Enkhardt (PV Magazine Germany) Uniper plans to use its gas power plants and storage facilities for green hydrogen. -- Siemens and the Uniper fossil fuels business spun out of German energy giant E.on have been working together for
by Michael Timko (Worcester Polytechnic Institute/Biofuels Digest) ... But, the food left on our plates is energy dense, rich in starches, lipids, and other components, all begging to be made into biofuels. After years of development, bioenergy costs remain too
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Phys.Org) A collaboration between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and three other national laboratories has yielded new insight into the ability of bacteria to break down the hardy part of a plant known as lignin. The additional
(VTT) In a three-year Business Finland BioFlex project, VTT and partners are exploring how suitable fuel oils made from biomass and waste plastics are for power plants and ship diesel engines. The aim is to determine the most ecologically and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A completely interesting example of what is known as the Straw Man fallacy appeared in coverage of a study that appears in this month’s Nature Sustainability, on electric vehicle emissions. The lead author of the study, University of Nijmegen’s Dr
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has released the "Bio-Restore Workshop Summary Report." This report summarizes the results of a BETO-sponsored public workshop held at Argonne National Laboratory on
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At last week’s Digest webinar, Mark Laurenzo from the Iowa Economic Development Authority shared this illuminating presentation on Iowa’s key value propositions, activity from the biosciences industry in the state where bioscience R&D expenditures per
by Joel Stone (ConVergInce Advisers/Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) A unique and affordable membrane technology exhibiting extremely low fouling rates can offer significant benefits to dry mill ethanol operations, especially on streams containing protein and oil components. First opportunity: Recover soluble protein,
(Bioenergy Insight) Finnish-Swiss biotech company Ductor is building three combined biofertiliser-biogas facilities in northern Poland. The new facilities will be built in Poland's Zachodniopomorskie region, approximately 100km off the coast of the Baltic Sea. The plants will use 100% poultry waste
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Biofuels are an important part of the broader strategy to replace petroleum-based gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels that we use today. However, biofuels have so far not reached cost parity with conventional petroleum fuels. One strategy to make
(University of Hohenheim (Google Translation)) German-Chinese Research Training Groups at the University of Hohenheim and the China Agricultural University in Beijing are looking for solutions for sustainable phosphorus use using the example of maize cultivation systems If it is not possible
by Tammy Klein (Future Fuels Strategies) ... Recently, I wrote a primer for the Methanol Institute entitled, Methanol: A Future-Proof Fuel. Polygeneration, the ability to scale efficiently and cost-effectively, its versatility in so many products and applications including transportation fuels, its
(Science Daily/Washington State University) A team has developed a less expensive water electrolysis system that works under alkaline conditions but still produces hydrogen at comparable rates to the currently used system that works under acidic conditions and requires precious metals.
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Amidst a tsunami of wall-to-wall ‘Rona coverage, a series of storylines have been lost in the shuffle that will have impacts near and wide-ranging for the bioeconomy, some of them relating directly to testing, scale-up
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) “These seeded hybrids are vital to our future business model and the rapid deployment of miscanthus as part of the climate change solution.” -- Researchers at the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS) Aberystwyth University,
by Marcus Storm (University of Sydney) The plant better known for making tequila requires no irrigation and produces comparable or better yields of ethanol than sugar or corn. Economic analysis shows a first-generation crop will need government support to kickstart
by Ross Mazur and Joel Braden (Sustainable Fuels Consulting LLC/Biofuels Digest) ...Carbon-neutral Electricity For all of us whose product is sold in an LCFS or RFS-2 market, carbon-free electricity could bring additional value (see B.O.T.E. profitability analysis below). Although
by Akshat Rathi (Bloomberg Green) C16 Biosciences uses yeast to convert food waste and industrial byproducts into a sustainable alternative. Breakthrough Energy Ventures, helmed by Bill Gates, is leading an investment round of $20 million for C16 Biosciences, a New York-based startup, which
Ed de Jong, Heinz Stichnothe, Geoff Bell and Henning Jørgensen (EIA Bioenergy) Since the first issue of the IEA Bioenergy Task 42 report on bio-based chemicals in 2011, the importance of a circular economy has become evident. In the transition to
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The BIOFIT consortium has now published a handbook on “Technical options for retrofitting industries with bioenergy”. The handbook includes arguments for retrofitting, describes the retrofitting process and its impact on public perception, summarizes the European biomass potential and logistics
(Boss Magazine) ... What else algae can suck up, though, is carbon dioxide. When harnessed for carbon capture, algae could become a force in combatting climate change. ... Like other plants, algae take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. In fact,
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